"Brent Jordan had two touchdowns and Micah Riddick scored his first touchdown as a senior playing his first year of football."

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With most of Kingston's skill players graduating, quarterback Pat Dorrian and receiver Shawn Marchant will be next year's veterans. Dorrian was 15-of-30 passing for 325 yards and five touchdowns.

Riddick completed a 53-yard bomb to Marchant, who stumbled and fell 2 yards short of the goal line. Two plays later, Riddick dashed around the right side to score with 50 seconds left in the first half.

Jake McManus kicked the extra point for a 24-7 lead. The Tigers (4-5) stormed back after the Presidents (2-7) scored first on Matt DuPilka's 60-yard pass to Chris Osterman.

DuPilka completed 18-of-37 passes for 320 yards, and Osterman had five receptions for 126 yards. Interceptions by Isaiah Gordon, Justin Robinson and Shannon Vladich enabled Kingston to slow down the Roosevelt/Rhinebeck attack.

Linebacker Devan Shambo supplied the first of two keys fumble recoveries for the Tigers. With the score tied 7-7, Kingston capitalized immediately on the turnover.

Dorrian, Jordan and Jerred Beniquez collaborated on a 68-yard hook and ladder that put the Tigers ahead to stay with 8:30 left in the second period. Jordan caught the short toss from Dorrian at the Kingston 37-yard line, then Beniquez raced the final 63 yards after taking the lateral from Jordan.

Beniquez (five receptions, 98 yards) scored the first Tiger touchdown on a 23-yard pass from Dorrian.

The gadget play for the second touchdown was used the first time against Monroe-Woodbury, gaining 28 yards to fuel a scoring drive with Kingston trailing 20-0.

"Against Monroe, we drew it up on the sideline," Dorrian recalled. "We thought why not because we wanted to reach the playoffs.

"We had to think of something."

Despite rallying within 20-14, the Tigers lost 27-14 and were eliminated from playoff contention in Section 9, Class AA. Kingston followed the defeat with Division I victories over Middletown and Newburgh before facing the Presidents in the crossover.

"We couldn't make the playoffs, but we came into today with a chance to win our last game," Dorrian said. "You don't get that chance too often.

"Beating Newburgh was our Super Bowl. Tonight we wanted to do it for the seniors."

Wally Stephens, a senior linebacker like Shambo, produced the other big turnover after the Tigers went ahead 14-7. DuPilka fumbled behind the line of scrimmage at the Kingston 30, and Stephens showed good speed with a 63-yard return to the Roosevelt/Rhinebeck 7.

McManus kicked a 29-yard field goal for a 17-7 lead with 2:09 left in the half after the Presidents made the defensive stop. Gordon's interception on the next Roosevelt/Rhinebeck possession led to Riddick's touchdown.

"Our defensive guys played their tails off," Collins said. "The last touchdown Roosevelt scored was against our second-team defense."

Reserve defensive back Mike Fuoco sustained a knee injury on Bennie Taylor's 21-yard scoring run for the Presidents with 3:46 left. Taylor, who flattened Fuoco at the goal line, led his team in rushing (60 yards on 13 carries) and caught four passes for 73 yards.

Fullback Joe Ciampaglione had a 9-yard touchdown run for Roosevelt/Rhinebeck in the third quarter but was held to only 13 yards overall on 10 carries.

Dorrian threw two scoring passes to Jordan (five receptions, 95 yards) and one to Riddick in the second half. A crowd of 363 witnessed the offensive fireworks at Dietz Stadium.

Although Kingston will take a hit from graduation losses, Collins thinks the returning Tigers learned some valuable lessons.

"The Monroe-Woodbury game was the turning point," he said. "We talked with the underclassmen on defense about coming out at the beginning of next year the way we did against Monroe.

"We found a defense that suits the kids we have. We have some things to take care of in the off season with forming our identity."